2.9.18-Oslo

Did a dumb thing this morning. Decided to wash my pants and shirt. And what’s dumb about that you may ask. Well after shower etc I realised I’d left my Oslo Pass in the pocket. It had fallen to pieces- bugger. Took it downstairs to see what could be done - we had purchased them at hotel resepsjon. They had no answers but promised to phone about it after 9. 

Back to the room to do some blogging. Then down for our most awesome Oslo Thon Cecil Hotel breakfast. 

Back to reception- they had phoned and emailed with no luck and suggested going to the Infornation Centre. This was in the opposite direction to our plans. So the remains of the ticket went into a zip lock bag. 

That’s the remainder of my Oslo Pass. 

And it’s envelope for safe keeping. 

It should look like this!!!!

Off we went to catch our Hop on Hop Off boat at the City Hall pier just down the end of our street. 

After a bit of a hiccup waiting at wrong spot we just managed the 10.15. They let me off the hook with ticket. 

A short journey on an old clipper across to Bygdoy Island which houses several Museums. 

On board our Hop on Hop Off boat. 

Boats at Bygdoy Island. 

Our Hop on Hop Off clipper

First up was the Fram Museum This museum provided us with a overview of the history of Arctic exploration particularly Roald Amundsen and others. The A frame building was built to house the ship Fram and another one of Amundsen’s several ships and other types of Arctic transport Gjoa. Amundsen also explored using Planes and dirigibles. 

They wouldn’t accept my Oslo card but took pity and let me as a student at half price. 

Here we are with Amundsen. 

The Gjoa



NB the polar bears up the back. 

Then onto the next room which housed the significantly larger Fram. The Fram was purpose built to withstand the ice pressures of Arctic exploration. 

Onboard the Fram. With the sound and light show happening to replicate the journey. 

We explored below decks which have been preserved as they were. Some super impressive planning and preparation by Amundsen., it was interesting to see just what they took to live out in the Arctic for four to five years. 

The storm was pretty realistic, was feeling a bit queasy 











The windmill top right was used to generate power until the cogs wore out. Then they used the wood to make sleds. Nothing wasted. 

The Fram was purpose built by a bloke who spent his 20’s in Australia. 

From there we walked up the island to visit the Viking Museum. This building houses three Viking ships that had been used as burial ships. This meant they had been buried underground with bodies in them and with a mound of dirt on top to fully cover the ship and bodies and the gifts that were buried with people. These were then discovered many years later and dug up and resurrected into the ships and remnants in the museum today. 

The shape of the Viking ships and the ornate carving was incredible to see. Despite the wood being soft and damaged from burial they managed to dig it up dry it somehow and recreate the ship. The Oseberg was actually reconstructed using 90% of the original wood. 

The Oserberg. This was the burial ship for two women. 



The Oseberg was the most ornate and complete of the three. 



I was quite taken with the shadow of the curly bit. Also note the rudder on right side. 

The women buried in the Osterberg were an older and younger one. The older woman’s bones indicated she’d suffered a serious illness as a child, was stooped over, had cancer. They speculate that the younger woman was healthy and had maybe been sacrificed to accompany the older woman. 

After learning a lot we caught a bus back (we’d missed the boat) to city hall area where we checked out an event happening - seemed to be a bit of a festival of people from other countries who’ve settled in Oslo. There was also many food stalls set up. Then we ate our lunch and headed to the Royal Palace - Slottsplassen and Slottsparken in the hope of doing a tour at 4. Unfortunately tours only run in Summer and we missed out. The palace and surrounding parks and garden were simple but looked good. We watched the guards for a while and then decided to dash to the other end of town to have a look at Oslo Domekirk- the Cathedral. We hot footed and snuck in just before closing time at 4. Painted ceilings, some lead light windows and imposing pipes were what we saw. 

Skottsplatten

Us at the palace. 

Suzie and I. Pic by Tracy. 

Tracy and the guards having a natter. Pic by Tracy via Suzie 


Guard with green epaulets 

The garden

A manhole cover. 

The pipes in the Cathedral 

The pulpit and altar 

Ceiling 

A street artist we stopped to watch. 

Then we thought it time for some Hygge. We tried to find a rooftop bar - checked out Bar eight at The Grand - it was shut. Then Another nearer Akershus Fortress at First Hotel Grimms Grenka  but this was also shut. We looked at the oldest house in town - but it was not open either. Ahhh the joys of Oslo on a Sunday. So we continued to one of  Scott’s recommendations in Kvadraturen square. We had a drink and eventually ate there as it was looking pretty hard to find a good place that was open on a a Sunday. 

Where we had a drink earlier in Oslo. 

Drinks and dinner at Celsius



A tiny little barista coffee truck. 

Me beside it for some scale. 

Tea was yummy - Suzie had a shrimp open sandwich, Tracy a chicken salad and me a burger. We also had a couple of drinks each which cost $207 Aud. Or 1326 NOK (Norwegian Kroner). Definitely living up to the reputation of expensive to eat, but at Least it well cooked and delicious. 

Then home as the evening cooled down to pack and prepare for departure to Bergen tomorrow.